Raby Castle, Park and Gardens has announced a collaboration with Garden Trading, a brand synonymous with a beautifully created collection for the home and garden.

The Garden Trading residency will be in Raby’s Conservatory, located within the stunning 18^th century Walled Gardens. Following a launch in early March, it will be running until late summer.

Indoor and outdoor furniture, pots, homeware accessories and tableware from the Garden Trading collection will be showcased, alongside some of the latest spring and summer 2026 pieces which are all inspired by modern country living with effortless style.

Utilising the Conservatory’s stunning views of the castle, a Garden Trading showroom will be created featuring the range of products, moving from a stylised utility, dining room and indoor living space to bistro tables and outdoor living.

Stephanie Goss, retail, buying and merchandising manager at Raby Castle, Park and Gardens said: “This is a collaboration I’ve been aspiring towards for well over a year and we are incredibly excited to be bringing this to Raby – I just know the overall ethos of Garden Trading is going to appeal to our visitors.

“The Garden Trading showroom will feature a carefully curated and personally handpicked selection of the brand’s wonderful products. It will be amazing to peruse these against the backdrop of our Walled Gardens, which are full of inspiration.

“We will also have a dedicated team, trained by Garden Trading, there during its time with us, who will be able to share helpful insight with our visitors, particularly those who are looking for some extra guidance for those bigger, more considered purchases.”

Stands full of accessories can be explored in the conservatory, with another display also available in Raby’s retail space, The Coach House.

Richard Bell, managing director of Garden Trading said: “We are thrilled to be a part of the Raby Castle experience, and have enjoyed pulling together a curated range we feel will resonate with their visitors. Even in such a prestigious heritage site, the Conservatory space stands out as absolutely beautiful, perfectly complementing our range and aesthetic.

“It’s even more exciting that the set-up allows customers to order from our full collection, so we can’t wait to see the customers’ reaction and to continue expanding our partnership with Raby Castle.”

To complement this new collaboration, florists, Periwinkle Barn will also be situated in the Potting Sheds near to the Conservatory, providing seasonal bouquets and floral workshops.

To celebrate the arrival of Garden Trading at Raby Castle, Park and Gardens, a launch event will be taking place on Thursday 19th March for late night shopping, perfectly timed before the spring equinox, where attendees can browse the array of products and speak with Garden Trading representatives, who will also be in attendance to share more about the beautiful collection and brand.

Taking place between 4pm and 7pm, the evening will include 20% off all Garden Trading furniture and accessories and a complimentary Ravello Bud Vase for any Garden Trading purchases over £30 (exclusions apply).

The Garden Trading residency in the Conservatory will be open daily between 11am and 3pm and is free to enter.

For further information, visit: www.raby.co.uk/raby-castle/whats-on/

Indulgent afternoon teas and sophisticated shopping await at Raby Castle, Park and Gardens for Mother’s Day, all whilst surrounded by the serene parkland and beautifully landscaped grounds.

For those who are looking to spoil the mother figure in their life, or enjoy the day with their group of girlfriends, Raby is the lifestyle destination which offers it all for a stylish day out – from luxury brands and products such as Bamford and Neptune in its retail space in The Coach House, to a decadent Mother’s Day afternoon tea with fizz in the spacious Vinery Cafe, which can be enjoyed whilst soaking up the panoramic views of the medieval castle.

To celebrate Mother’s Day, Raby will also have a fantastic offer with mums going free into Raby Castle with a Plotters’ Forest or Park and Gardens ticket throughout the 14th and 15th March weekend.

The Mother’s Day Cream Tea will be served in the charming Vinery Café with beautiful views of Raby Castle. Enjoy a delicious fruit scone and our rhubarb and ginger scone, served with Cornish Clotted Cream and Annabell’s award-winning Strawberry Conserve.

Deborah Simpson Boston, a local floral designer and owner of Periwinkle Barn, will be running a relaxing and hands-on workshop – ideal for those who are looking for a creative way to celebrate or to give as a thoughtful gift.

Deborah will be demonstrating how to create an elegant flower bowl, using a beautiful selection of fresh, seasonal blooms and foliage and a pop-up Periwinkle Barn will also be in the Potting Shed in the lead up to the big day, where stunning bouquets can be purchased as a thoughtful gesture for Mother’s Day.

The Mother’s Day delight also includes complimentary access to the stunning Deer Park and Walled Gardens, allowing visitors to stretch their legs, relax in the tranquil scenery, marvel at the sophisticated planting schemes and enjoy the springtime air whilst spending quality time together.

Over at High Force Hotel, part of the Raby Estate and a thirty-minute drive from Raby Castle, an exclusive three-course lunch is available for those who’d prefer to enjoy a sit-down meal for Mother’s Day. Serving locally sourced and tasty food in an elegant yet relaxed setting with open fires and rustic charm, High Force Hotel is an idyllic rural retreat for a Mother’s Day celebration.

For those who’d like to explore the area after their three-course delight, High Force Waterfall is nearby, where visitors can soak up the immense sight of one of the largest waterfalls in England.

The Mother’s Day Cream Tea in The Vinery is available on Sunday, 15^th March at 10:00 am, 10:30 am, 11:00 am, 11:30 am and is £15 per person or £30 for two, with Bucks Fizz included in this price.

The glasshouse afternoon tea at The Vinery is also available on Saturday 14th at 3:00pm and is £29.50 per person, or £37.50 to include a glass of fizz.

Periwinkle Barn’s flower bowl workshop is on Saturday, 14th March at 11am and is £65 per person.

The Mother’s Day three-course lunch at High Force Hotel is taking place on Sunday 15^th March, with tables available at 12.30pm and 2.30pm and is £32 per adult. A Mother’s Day afternoon tea is also available at High Force Hotel on Sunday 15^th March at 4.30pm and is £28.50 per adult, or £36.50 per adult with a glass of fizz.

Don’t forget to stop at The Conservatory at Raby Castle to explore the new Garden Trading exhibition anytime between 10am-4pm. With beautifully crafted pieces of furniture for both the garden and the home.

Pre-booking for all Mother’s Day experiences across the Raby Estate is strongly recommended. For more information and to book, visit: Mother’s Day at Raby Estates | Raby Castle | High Force Waterfall

The perfect Mother’s Day Itinerary at Raby Castle, Park & Gardens

10:00am – Stroll Through Walled Gardens
Begin your day with a relaxing wander through Raby’s majestic Deer Park and curated Walled Gardens, soaking in the tranquillity and elegance of this breathtaking landscape.

10:30am – Decadent Cream Tea in The Vinery
Select your preferred dining experience:
• Sunday: A sumptuous Mother’s Day cream tea served in the light‑filled Vinery Café.
• Saturday: A luxurious glasshouse afternoon tea, complete with delicate treats and the option of fizz.

11:00am – Mother’s Day Floral Workshop
Choose to indulge in the hands‑on floral workshop — a serene session where seasonal blooms, expert guidance, and artistic flair come together to create something truly special.

12:00pm – Wander Through the Deer Park
Continue your leisurely exploration of the estate, taking time to enjoy the peaceful ambience, sweeping views, and historic charm at your own pace you might even spot some deer along the way

12:30pm – Browse Garden Trading
Step into The Conservatory for an exclusive look at the beautifully presented Garden Trading, showcasing refined home and garden pieces crafted for modern luxury living.

1pm – Castle Moments
Return to the gardens for another restorative stroll or take time to explore the magnificent castle itself — with complimentary admission for mums throughout the weekend.

2.30pm – Add coffee and cake at the garage

3pm – Retail Therapy at The Coach House
Browse an impeccable selection of premium lifestyle brands at The Coach House — a haven of elegant gifts, contemporary homeware and sophisticated accessories including Bamford, Neptune and Daylesford.

Families can travel through time and space this February half term in a series of new activities across Raby Estates.

At Raby Castle, Park and Gardens, a time-travelling adventure awaits at the servant school in the medieval castle, designed to provide a hands-on way for children to explore history and experience the day-to-day jobs of a castle servant over 100 years ago.

Families can venture through the 14th century castle and have a go at some special tasks along the way – from household chores to helping the family prepare for supper. Children can also complete activities on the complimentary trail sheet to earn gold coin stamps and be given their very own wage slip at the end.

Tim Dodgson, Public Engagement and Learning Coordinator at Raby Castle said: “Around 1.5 million people worked in domestic service in 1900, from regular households to palaces and castles. And surprisingly, it offered opportunities for a varied career and progression. You could start as a scullery maid or stewards room boy and work up to the senior roles of Housekeeper or Butler, with a whole variety of jobs along the way.

“We’ve brought to life many of these important roles and people from Raby’s past in the restored rooms on our castle tour, but our servant school will shine a light on Raby’s history for our younger visitors and ensure learning about history is even more fun. It’s going to be a fantastic addition for the February half term alongside the return of our themed castle explorer tours.”

Another journey to the past awaits at Raby’s woodland adventure playground, The Plotters’ Forest. For the first school holiday of 2026, Raby has created a world of wonder in its new Dragon Quest, with clues dotted around its immersive play area that young knights and dames will need to find as they dash through.

Children can enjoy plenty of outdoor fun as they explore the woodland route at The Plotters’ Forest, featuring musical instruments, talking tubes, mischief mirrors, a giant memory game, spinning signposts, towers, climbing ladders, a slide and treetop tunnels.

Throughout the castle grounds, complimentary daily activities include seed sowing inside the greenhouse in the Walled Gardens, where children can also run through the series of unique mazes in the formal garden, and a winter gardeners’ walk and talk led by one of Raby’s expert gardeners. Visitors can also marvel at the red and fallow deer being fed in the scenic Deer Park at 10.30am on the weekends.

The Vinery Café will be serving delicious lunches throughout the half term as well as a pancake topping station until Friday 20th February, followed by a waffle topping station from Monday 23rd to Friday 27th February for those who are looking to get creative with their desserts in the afternoon. Families can also head to the Garage Café and the Plotters’ Pantry for hot chocolates and sweet treats.

Over at High Force Waterfall, a 30-minute drive from Raby Castle, families can explore all things astronomy for the half term with a new space adventure trail, whilst visiting the natural phenomenon renowned for some of the darkest skies in the country.

Space-themed clues and facts will be discovered when wandering through the winding woodlands and families can tick them off on the complimentary trail sheet along the way to reveal the mystery word.

Andrew Lindsay, general manager at High Force Hotel and Waterfall said: “We host our sell-out Stargazing Suppers at High Force throughout the winter months, and our family stargazing sessions also proved to be extremely popular last October.

“Building on this theme, we can’t wait to introduce our space explorer trail for the half term, which I’m sure will spark curiosity in the young space cadets who visit, as they enjoy the perfect way to explore the wonders of the night sky, during the day. We hope to see many of the families visiting the waterfall at the hotel too, as they take a moment to treat themselves to some lunch after their inter-galactic adventures.”

High Force will continue to run its family saver ticket for the February half term, which admits two adults and two children to the waterfall. This ticket is £10 when purchased online, or £12 onsite.

Raby’s Family Explorer ticket is available for £60 when purchased online and provides two adults and two children with access-all-areas, including the new activities at the castle and the Plotters’ Forest and entry to Raby’s picturesque Deer Park and Walled Gardens. Alternatively, the Family Explorer ticket can be purchased at Raby on the day for £65.

The pancake and waffle topping stations in The Vinery are £5.95 per child, with adult options also available.

All activities run through to Sunday 1st March, with the Dragon Quest trail extended until Sunday 29th March. For further information and to book tickets, visit: www.raby.co.uk/raby-castle/whats-on/

Lady Grace will be celebrated at a special tour of the Castle on the 8^th March 2026 – International Women’s Day.

This tour will focus on her life at Raby and the spaces she helped to create around the Castle.

Click HERE to book tickets.

Lady Grace Fitzroy The Women Who Saved Raby tour with Raby Castle's Archivist this International Womens day

by Joseph Reed, Archivist

Raby has been home to many remarkable women over the centuries. Some from the Neville family are among the most famous individuals to have ever lived in the castle, such as Cecily Neville (the ‘Rose of Raby’) and her mother Joan Beaufort. Many of those more recent female residents have rightly become more recognised through research over recent years, shared through the ‘Women of Raby’ events: Anne Monson for her pioneering botanical work, Anne Vane (mistress of Frederick, Prince of Wales) for her artistic endeavours, and Catherine, 4^th Duchess of Cleveland as an historian and author.

However, this International Women’s Day, Raby will celebrate one woman who has received little limelight: Lady Grace Fitzroy. Recent discoveries in the archives suggest she was largely responsible for saving the castle, and setting it on the course to become the historic home seen and enjoyed today.

Raby’s Fateful Destruction

Lady Grace was born in the highest social circumstances, the granddaughter of a king. Charles II had a son by his famous mistress Barbara Villiers, Duchess of Cleveland. The boy, named Charles (‘Fitzroy’ – meaning ‘king’s son’), was recognised by his father and made Duke of Southampton. Lady Grace was the duke’s eldest surviving child, born in 1697.

Nothing is yet known about Grace’s childhood and younger life. When Grace was a teenager, the Vane family at Raby was enduring a tumultuous time. Though she would not have known it, these circumstances were setting in train the project which would dominate most of her adult life: the destruction (and restoration) of Raby Castle.

Visitors to Raby today learn about the irreconcilable rift that formed between Christopher, 1^st Lord Barnard and his heir Gilbert, which led to Lord Barnard hiring 200 workmen in 1714 to destroy Raby Castle and render it uninhabitable. The buildings were left with no complete roof, nor windows or doors, and the estimated repair bill ran to thousands of pounds.

The Women Who Saved Raby Internation Womens Day 2026

The Women Who Saved Raby Internation Womens Day 2026 1

Gilbert successfully sued his father to stop the destruction of his inheritance, with an order in 1716 to repair what had been done. However, when Lord Barnard died in 1723 limited repairs had been undertaken (or none at all), and the castle continued to languish in a largely ruinous state.

In September 1725, Lady Grace married Henry Vane, heir to Gilbert 2^nd Lord Barnard. On their marriage, Gilbert settled upon the couple the lands around the castle, perhaps with the hope that they might one day live there. In 1726, Gilbert’s younger brother (who had been the main beneficiary of their father’s will) was sued to complete the repairs on the castle their father had been ordered to undertake.

Work began, and a surviving date stone presumably marks the successful completion of the restoration of some or all of the South Range in 1729, with a fragment of the monogram of Henry and Lady Grace. The couple would live at the Castle for around the next 30 years, overseeing its gradual repair and turning it into the fashionable Georgian home, fit for an Earl and Countess (as they would become).

Grace as Administrator, Project Manager, Art Collector

By contemporary accounts, Lady Grace was a formidable woman. Recent research in the archives is beginning to demonstrate that while Grace worked in partnership with her husband, some regarded it as an unequal one. One unsympathetic observer, closely involved with the Vane family at the time, frustratedly remarked that Henry ‘has no notions but what he receives from Lady Grace’.

Grace’s brother, the 3^rd Duke of Cleveland & Southampton was widowed in 1742, and he also came to live at Raby for periods of time. Grace became the key administrator between her brother and husband’s financial arrangements, and directed their agents. She used this position, combining the funds of both men to enable the restoration of the castle and development of the parkland around, turning Raby from the semi-ruinous castle in the 1720s into a restored fashionable Georgian country seat by the 1750s.

Grace was far more than just a managerial force. She handled and annotated (and presumably directed) the architectural plans as work progressed. She was also an astute acquirer, commissioner, and creator of artistic works, buying tapestries and paintings to adorn the walls of the castle (some of which still survive).

Lady Grace’s drive and energy to transform the Castle over many decades may have saved it, when after its destruction the Vanes might easily have started afresh elsewhere. When her son inherited Raby in 1758, around three decades after she and Henry had begun their great restoration, the castle was wholly transformed.

Don’t let the rain stop you this February Half Term with a whole host of indoor activities at Raby Castle, Park and Gardens spanning across two weeks from 14th February to the 1st March. These dates include Scotland, Yorkshire and County Durham half-term holidays, making for the perfect rainy day out in County Durham.

Your morning

11am – Wanted: Half Term Helpers Raby’s Butler and Housekeeper are on the lookout for enthusiastic, hardworking individuals to become a part of the Castle team in the complimentary Servant School Tour.

11.30am – Stay indoors and take part in the Servant School Children’s Trail, exploring the rooms of Raby Castle, completing tasks to gain your stamps for your wage slips.

Midday

12.30pm – Head to the Vinery Café for a cosy break with hot drinks, brunch, lunch or afternoon tea while watching the rain through big windows. It’s one of the most atmospheric indoor stops on site — perfect for warming up and recharging. You might even get to indulge in delicious pancakes at the select-your-own-topping station. If you did want to head outdoors we do have a complimentary Gardeners Walk and Talk at 12pm – meet you at the Round House.

Your Afternoon

1pm – Wander around the Coach House Shop & Exhibition, a friendly indoor space with curated giftware, local products, homeware and so much Jellycat with a dedicated children’s section. Browsing here can be a fun half-term activity when it’s wet outside, explore the exhibition, projection table and the horse you might find in the stables…

1.30pm – Ready to brace the drizzle? Take an Adventure to The Plotters’ Forest Adventure Playground and take part in the Dragon Quest Trail located within a Christmas Tree plantation it provides a lot of shelter from the rain and even a pit stop pantry for a hot drink.

2.30pm -Next stop the Green House in the Walled Gardens for complimentary seeding sowing with a member of the Garden’s team and if you are feeling extra brave, head to the expansive deer park and if you can spot these incredible mammals often close by to the ponds or venture around the stunning walled gardens.

3.30pm – Last hot chocolate shop of the day? The Garage Cafe offers the perfect selection located outside the Coach Yard.

USE CODE FEB10 on Family Explorer Tickets, which gives you access to all attractions and trails, including Raby Castle, Deer Park, Walled Gardens and The Plotters’ Forest.

Family Explorer (2 Adults 2 Children) £60 online £65 onsite | Adult £21 Online £22 onsite | Child £11 Online £12 Onsite | Under 4’s Free

BOOK NOW

A much-loved volunteer guide at Raby Castle, Park and Gardens is representing County Durham and the wider North East in VisitEngland’s prestigious national Tourism Superstar competition, with public voting now open.

87-year-old Jimmy Nicol, a volunteer guide at Raby Castle, is one of just ten finalists shortlisted nationally in the Tourism Superstar award, which celebrates individuals working in tourism who go above and beyond to create outstanding visitor experiences while championing England’s diverse destinations.

Jimmy secured his place in the national finals after being crowned Durham Tourism Superstar 2025, an annual award organised by Visit County Durham, Durham County Council’s tourism service. He was nominated by a colleague at Raby Castle in recognition of his infectious enthusiasm, dedication and the ambassadorial role he plays not only for Raby, but for County Durham and the North East as a whole.

The national shortlist features finalists from destinations across England, including Norfolk, Leicestershire and Worcestershire, with Jimmy proudly flying the flag for County Durham alongside fellow North East finalist Dan Monk, Director of Astrophotography at Kielder Observatory in Northumberland. He is widely regarded as one of the UK’s leading experts in night sky photography and has played a key role in showcasing Northumberland’s world-class dark skies to a global audience.

Jimmy joined Raby Castle as a volunteer in 2018, where he shares the castle’s fascinating history with visitors and supports major events across the estate, becoming a familiar and friendly face for thousands of visitors each year.

Duncan Peake, CEO at Raby Estates, said: “Jimmy’s dedication to both Raby Castle and County Durham is evident in everything he does. It is the enthusiasm and commitment of people like Jimmy that has helped establish County Durham as the popular visitor destination it is today.

“I would encourage everyone across the county and the wider North East to show their support and vote for Jimmy in the national Tourism Superstar competition.”

Michelle Gorman, Visit County Durham’s managing director said: “Jimmy is a fantastic example of the people who make County Durham such a special place to visit. His warmth, knowledge and genuine passion for Raby Castle and the wider county leave a lasting impression on everyone he meets. We are incredibly proud to see him representing County Durham on the national stage and wish him the very best of luck.”

Jimmy Nicol said: “Winning the Durham Tourism Superstar award was a wonderful feeling, and to now be representing Raby Castle and County Durham at a national level is a huge honour. Raby is a place that means a great deal to me, and I’m incredibly proud of the county and the region. To be nominated alongside such fantastic finalists is a real privilege.”

The winner of the national Tourism Superstar award is decided by public vote. Voting is open until the end of English Tourism Week (13–22 March 2026), with the overall winner announced later in the year at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2026.

VOTE HERE

Flowers and food are some of the Valentine’s weekend delights that can be enjoyed at Raby Castle, Park and Gardens during the most romantic time of the year.

Taking place in the Riding School on Saturday 14^th and Sunday 15^th February, Deborah Simpson Boston, a local floral designer and owner of Periwinkle Barn, will be returning to Raby to host an inspiring Valentine’s workshop.

Deborah has over ten years of experience in event flowers and will be demonstrating how to create a beautiful everlasting dried flower wreath during her workshop using a vine wreath base and a carefully curated selection of dried flowers. Deborah will be using a selection of sustainably sourced flowers including British spring flowers, and will also be sharing sustainable floristry techniques.

A Pop-up Flower Shop Periwinkle Barn flower shop will be hosted within the horsebox outside the Coach House, Raby’s retail space, from Thursday 12th to Sunday 15th February where visitors can purchase a seasonal bouquet to take home with them. Alternatively, the seasonal bouquets can be pre-ordered from the Coach House, which can be collected from the shop for Valentine’s Day or delivery of these special items can be arranged.

£30 | Mixed Flowers including roses

£40 | Mixed Flowers with additional roses

£50 | Mixed Flowers with twelve roses.

For those who are looking for a spot of indulgence, Raby will be hosting a Valentine’s afternoon tea in The Vinery on Friday 13th, Saturday 14^th Sunday 15th February between 2pm and 4pm.

Full of three delicious tiers of sweet treats, sandwiches and scones served with freshly brewed tea, the afternoon tea can be enjoyed whilst soaking up the panoramic views of Raby Castle.

Whilst at Raby Castle, visitors can amble through the romantic parkland, soak up the sights, sounds and smells during a wander through the peaceful Walled Gardens and delve into history during a tour through the medieval castle, then enjoy some retail therapy in The Coach House where a beautifully curated selection of produce and gifts await.

Ideal for a Valentine’s weekend activity or as a gift for a loved one, the Periwinkle Barn luxury everlasting Valentine’s wreath workshop will start at 11am on both Saturday 14^th and Sunday 15^th February and is £60 per person, with everything provided to create the finished piece.

The Glasshouse afternoon tea in The Vinery must be pre-booked and is £29.50 per person, and an afternoon tea with fizz is also available for £37.50 per person. A Glasshouse Afternoon Tea for two is £59.00.

A Raby Castle, Park and Gardens ticket is £23 for adults and for further information and to book tickets, visit: www.raby.co.uk/whats-on/

Exotic Woods in the Furniture Collection at Raby Castle

Raby Castle’s partnership with the Furniture History Society (FHS) as part of the British and Irish Furniture Makers Online (BIFMO) research programme continued this year thanks to the financial support of the Iris Foundation, with another project bringing together students from across the globe. While previous students have looked into the secrets of our Week’s Cabinet The secret of the Thomas Weeks Cabinet and Raby’s links to a Cleveland House in London Reimagining interiors- Dining in Style, this project considered the origins of materials used to make key pieces of furniture in the collection at Raby Castle.

Ana Maria Orobio Pinzon

Exotic Woods in the Furniture Collection at Raby Castle

Introducing Ana Maria, Jessamy and Rosaleen

Three students were awarded an internship over the summer of 2025 to collectively research the trading history of wood materials, their import into Britain, and how this linked to individual items in Raby’s collection. The chosen students were drawn to the project because of their interest in understanding how the story of Britain’s colonial past, and the corresponding expansion of trade in global materials, is woven throughout decorative arts and historic interiors in ways that are not always visible.

Ana Maria Orobio Pinzon is a second-year student in Decorative Arts, Design History and Material Culture at Bard Graduate Centre in New York, with a varied background in Art History and technical woodworking in Colombia.

Jessamy Harvey has recently completed her Masters in Decorative Arts and Historical Interiors at the University of Buckingham, and also has a PhD in Spanish Cultural Studies. Her previous experience in research and records management was useful for her visit to the Raby archives, where she tried to better understand how some of the historical furniture at Raby found its’ way into the collection.

Rosaleen Williams currently works at Temple Newsham House in Leeds, and has completed her Masters in Art, Gallery and Museum Studies. Rosaleen’s particular interest is in ‘hidden histories’ that can be unveiled by documents and furniture.

‘For each of us, this project has allowed us to understand more about the links between economic history and historical furniture. Thanks to this project, we can now draw connections between disparate parts of the world and Raby Castle and we hope visitors to the website enjoy taking this global journey too.’

Furniture Collecting at Raby Castle

Raby Castle holds a rich and varied collection, thanks to the generations of Vanes who have lived here since it was purchased by Sir Henry Vane the Elder in the 1600s. It has seen three main periods of significant restoration, which implemented different styles within the interiors of Raby based on tastes of the time.

One such period was led by Henry Vane, 2^nd Duke of Cleveland, who employed architect William Burn to work on the south front of the castle. Much of the collection of exotic woods at Raby Castle was contributed by the 2^nd Duke, who was owner between 1842-1864. He commissioned high-quality furniture from leading British cabinetmakers, including Gillows of Lancaster, Holland & Sons and Morant. This included the commission for decoration and furniture for the Octagon Room in 1848 (subject of a previous BIFMO project- The history of the Octagon Drawing Room.)

The project

Through this project, Raby wanted to gain a better understanding of our furniture collection, particularly those made with materials which might have travelled across the globe and represented the methods of trade and transportation within the furniture making industry.

The students identified research questions to focus on, including:

Why are materials classified as exotic woods?
Where do these woods come from?
How and when was its trade important, and what was the wider political context at the time?

They combined wider research with looking into our historic inventories and archives, before compiling this into an interactive website. The website includes an interactive map of the geographical origins of some of the exotic woods found in the collection, a timeline of the wood trade and how this aligned with the European colonisation of territories in continents such as America, Africa and Asia, and an analysis of some pieces of furniture in Raby’s collection to help understand more about the collecting interests of Raby’s residents.

Continue your curiosity

Visit the website

If you would like to find out more about this fascinating project, visit Ana Maria, Jessamy and Rosaleen’s fantastic interactive website below and discover how a piece of furniture found at Raby can represent a social and economic history which spans across the globe.

Home | Exotic Woods of Raby Castle

Visit the Website

Work has begun on a collection of new high-quality homes in Staindrop at the East Leaze development.

Managed by Raby Homes, the housing scheme will deliver 72 new properties, from one and two-bedroom apartments, single story, to five-bedroom houses and also includes affordable housing.

The area to the west of Grice Court will also see the enhancement of public and open spaces, featuring tree and ornamental planting as well as a wildflower meadow with many of the existing trees and hedges retained.

Duncan Peake, CEO at Raby Estates said: “East Leaze takes its name following research into the history of the area within the archives at Raby Castle, with the earliest surviving map of this location dating from 1732. We thought it a respectful nod to the past to use this name whilst also looking forward to an exciting new chapter in local history.

“New homes in this location will support existing services within Staindrop village and will contribute towards meeting the housing requirements of the county. Over recent decades, we have seen amenities such as shops and pubs lost in many of our villages. New housing will bring economic benefits to Staindrop to help it thrive – supporting schools and local services.”

The design for the scheme was created by Ben Pentreath, one of the country’s leading architectural practices involved in the design of traditionally inspired new developments. Their work seeks to draw from the best of the past, making places that are timeless and long-lasting, and yet robustly designed for modern life.

Duncan added: “The key characteristics that define the original buildings of Staindrop have been the primary influence behind our housing design, creating a carefully crafted and planned extension to the village with a retained character.

“We’ve also incorporated a sustainable design that contributes positively to the area’s character, identity, heritage significance, townscape and landscape features, helping to create and reinforce locally distinctive and sustainable communities.”

The development of the homes will remain in the control of the Raby Estate to ensure design and build quality is maintained throughout. For further information, visit: www.rabyhomes.co.uk

Raby Castle, Park & Gardens’ Hoppingly brilliant Easter plans

Raby Castle launches retail collaboration with Garden Trading

Style and Sophistication for Mother’s Day at Raby Estates

Dragon Quest, Interactive History and a Space Adventure for February Half Term

The Woman who saved Raby?

Your February Half Term Rainy Day Itinerary

Your morning

Midday

Your Afternoon

Vote for Jimmy for the National Tourism Superstar

Valentines Bouquets, Workshops and Afternoon Tea at Raby Castle

Exotic Woods in the Furniture Collection at Raby Castle

Ana Maria Orobio Pinzon

Raby Breaks Ground on Staindrop Homes

Your morning

Midday

Your Afternoon

Ana Maria Orobio Pinzon

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